After the Rain

by Leah Atwood

  “Can I have your name?” He gave her a charming grin. “Years from now, when I tell my grandchildren how I saved a beautiful woman from a raving mad duck, I need to have a name for her.”

  With his creative plea, how could she deny his request? “Sophie Thatcher.”

  She put the car in reverse and backed out from her spot. Once in her client’s driveway, she realized she didn’t get the stranger’s name in return. Her heart thumped harder and an inexplicable sense of loss came over her. The brief interaction with the man affected her in a strange way.

  With a dose of reluctance, she admitted he attracted her. He was comfortable in his own skin, something she’d always wished for herself. He had a sense of humor and enjoyed life, despite his wife passing, leaving him alone as a single dad. Most importantly, he was a Christian, unafraid to bring it into the conversation. On the surface, he was nothing she’d ever looked for in a potential boyfriend, but below the surface— well, the pull was undeniable.

  Excerpt from The Ultimatum Bride

  “How much did you hear?” Jesse’s face contorted into embarrassment and worry.

  “Enough,” she answered sadly, the weight of broken dreams pushing her down. Mustering all the dignity and strength she could, she raised the subject of her own parents’ abusive marriage. “I won’t be married to a drunken man who thinks hitting people is acceptable. I witnessed enough of that from my own father.”

  Before she knew what was happening, Jesse drew her into him, embracing her, comforting her. The strength of his arms around her was a direct conflict of the warring emotions inside of her. Upon meeting him, she’d felt a pull, an attraction she’d never known. He’d been affable and attentive, and she’d allowed herself to believe her marriage would be different than her parents’ union.

  But how could a marriage succeed based on what she’d learned? Her husband didn’t truly want a wife; he wanted a means to receive his inheritance. Oh, maybe she could bear that alone, but from his father’s words, she intuited that Jesse imbibed and had a violent side. That she could not tolerate. There was no alternative, though, except to make the best of this situation. She’d made her vows and would not break them.

  “I’m so sorry, Faith. This is not how I wished your arrival to happen. Please, let me explain.”

  Mrs. Wallace’s words of advice came to the forefront of her memory. Marriage takes a lot of understanding and communication. Conclusions are often drawn, but difficult to erase once spoken. An argument then commences because neither party listened to the other in time.

  “Sage advice,” Faith muttered.

  “What was that?” Jesse asked.

  “Just remembering some words of advice,” she answered quietly.

  Jesse released her once her tears fully subsided. “I am truly sorry you had to hear the words between Pa and me. It is true in a sense that you are an ultimatum bride, but there is more to it.”

  His words stung but as much as it hurt, she needed to know everything. “Then please tell me.”

  She saw Jesse inhale sharply, and he stood and moved to the edge of the room. His demeanor became agitated, not toward her, but as though he was hesitant to explain. When he remained silent, she spoke words meant to spur his explanation. “Our marriage will be difficult enough considering the aspects of how we met. The circumstances may not have been ideal, but I want to believe we can still be happy; however, that will require complete honesty.”

  Jesse turned and came back toward her. Kneeling in front of her, he took her hands. She made no effort to remove them, sensing he needed that contact. “I’ve made mistakes in my past. My mother died young, and I was the eldest of four children, the only boy. Lost in his grief, my father hired a housekeeper and nurse to look after us. For all intents and purposes, I was left to my own devices, the girls receiving most of the attention. As I grew, my father over indulged me, allowing me too much freedom. I’m ashamed to say I took advantage of that freedom, doing things I’m not proud that I did.”

  He paused and Faith reflected on the differences in their upbringings. Both had lost their mothers at a young age, but Faith had no choice but to grow up and be an adult. “And has that changed?”

  Sighing, Jesse looked increasingly uncomfortable. “I want to say yes. Since my father issued his ultimatum, I have not indulged in alcohol or been in a fight. Even before that, I’ve never struck a woman. My last fight was even to protect a woman’s honor. But I’m afraid I’m still making decision that reflect my own selfishness. Had I been more considerate, perhaps I could have spared your feelings and the scene with my father.”

  Faith looked into his eyes, drawn by their depths of gray. “’Why me, Jesse? It would have been so much easier to choose a wife from Morganton? What do I have to offer?”

  “Everything.”